appropriate

views updated Jun 11 2018

ap·pro·pri·ate • adj. / əˈprōprē-it/ suitable or proper in the circumstances: a measure appropriate to a wartime economy.• v. / -ˌāt/ [tr.] 1. take (something) for one's own use, typically without the owner's permission: his images have been appropriated by advertisers.2. devote (money or assets) to a special purpose: there can be problems in appropriating funds for legal expenses.DERIVATIVES: ap·pro·pri·ate·ly / -itlē/ adv. ap·pro·pri·ate·ness / -itnis/ n.ap·pro·pri·a·tor / -ˌātər/ n.

appropriate

views updated May 29 2018

appropriate make one's own, take to oneself. XV. f. appropriate pp. and adj. (XV), or pp. stem of late L. appropriāre, f. AP- + proprius own, PROPER, see -ATE2, -ATE3.
So appropriation XIV. — (O)F. — late L.